Interior LED lighting flickers

[dansingh]

I swapped out the stock bulbs with LED bulbs for the interior in my '08 X5. All the bulbs work, but when you start the car the bulbs flicker which can be very annoying and looks like s***. Anyone else swap out the stock interiors for LEDs and have this problem. I think I made need to add a resistor or cap.

TIA

[Jumbo-5]

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question, but how do you open the dome light cover and rear interior light panels above rear passengers on the side?

I tried at them with a flat screwdriver but dont want to put any more force cuz they feel like they might break...please help!

[Don Juan]

The X5 has sensors in the interior lights. If you use just plain LED you will get the flickering. The sensors are in the main dome light (center front) and the 2 rears. The reading lights don't have any sensors.
In those lights mentioned above you need to place LED with integrated resistors to close the loop.
I had the same situation and after I did that, no more flickering ;-)

[MnRiverman]

I have replaced all interior lights with LED's w/o resistors and there is no flickering. This is on a 2011 X5. On the rear seat light panels, you have to insert a thin tool between the light housing and the metal mount in the headliner and gently pry the light housing out.

[TimZ]

Originally Posted by dansingh

I swapped out the stock bulbs with LED bulbs for the interior in my '08 X5. All the bulbs work, but when you start the car the bulbs flicker which can be very annoying and looks like s***. Anyone else swap out the stock interiors for LEDs and have this problem. I think I made need to add a resistor or cap.

TIA

Can you put up some pics of the LED lighting and how the cabin looks with it?

[V8M3Bimmer]

Originally Posted by Don Juan

The X5 has sensors in the interior lights. If you use just plain LED you will get the flickering. The sensors are in the main dome light (center front) and the 2 rears. The reading lights don't have any sensors.
In those lights mentioned above you need to place LED with integrated resistors to close the loop.
I had the same situation and after I did that, no more flickering ;-)

Hey Don Juan,

Can you create a how to for this, or link is to the LEDs that you used?

Thanks

[V8M3Bimmer]

Originally Posted by MnRiverman

I have replaced all interior lights with LED's w/o resistors and there is no flickering. This is on a 2011 X5. On the rear seat light panels, you have to insert a thin tool between the light housing and the metal mount in the headliner and gently pry the light housing out.

What LEDs did you use?

[V8M3Bimmer]

I figured this out on my own. These bulbs worked for me:

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Mercedes-Er...ree_t10_2r.htm

[Phipsibear42]

I used the Ziza bulbs kit from ECS Tuning which comes with 18 LED's (16 interior and 2 for the rear license plates). They all have the resistors built in, and I didnt' have any flickering. I too had an issue with the rear dome lights till I got one out; I ripped out both the metal and the plastic housing lol. It was rather nerve racking, but then figured it out for the second one. Also, the license plate lights were a pain too... I broke one of those and need a new one now.

[V8M3Bimmer]

I would have ordered the Ziza kit if it was complete. It bothers me this kit doesn't get the rear maps, the glove box, or the vanity lights.....

[Phipsibear42]

Originally Posted by V8M3Bimmer

I would have ordered the Ziza kit if it was complete. It bothers me this kit doesn't get the rear maps, the glove box, or the vanity lights.....

The kit for the x5 comes with 18 bulbs, not sure what they offer for the M3. U can always buy bulbs individually too, and I've seen similar on eBay too for less than half the price.